SPRING 2018 Anishinabek News Page 1 ANISHINABEK NEWS The voice of the Anishinabek Nation Volume 28 Issue 1 Published quarterly by the Anishinabek Nation Spring 2018 Elder Gord Waindubence shares clan teachings at the Ka mnaadendanaa gaabi zhiwebeg miinwaa nango megwaa ezhwebag, miinwa geyaabi waa ni zhiwebag - Our Past, Present and Future Conference held Feb.13-15 in Sault Ste. Marie. – Photo by Laura Barrios Clan teachings: we are one family By Laura Barrios communicate with our citizenship and First • The Four Elements: Fire, Water, Earth, and Stewart Clatworthy. One of the findings SAULT STE. MARIE – The Governance Nations. The way in which we communicate Wind. They were given to the Anishinabek concluded that Ojibway is used at home by Working Group and the Chiefs Committee with all First Nations will vary based on the to take care of. a small minority of the Anishinabek popula- on Governance members jointly met in Sault capacity and challenges each First Nation • The 7-pointed star: represents the sacred tion, even in the First Nations where it is the Ste. Marie on February 7 and 8. There were faces. gifts—the Seven Grandfather Teachings— strongest. For example, the highest level of 22 members that attended, representing 12 of For example, if there is an issue of which are the foundations that were given to Ojibway is in Wiikwemkoong Unceded Ter- our member First Nations, including Chiefs broadband accessibility, there is intermittent us by the Creator. These are our laws. ritory where it is the home language of 20% and members of Council. access to online means of communications, • Sovereignty: the Creator gave us sover- of the residents on-reserve. In the majority of Updates on the progress of the Anishi- therefore, a more direct approach will be bet- eignty to man, woman and child to look after the Anishinabek Nation First Nations, 0.0% nabek Nation Governance Agreement were ter suited with door-to-door visits, or mailed ourselves and Mother Earth. of the residents identify Ojibway as the lan- provided to members, more specifically sur- information. Other First Nations may have • The Anishinabek also respect and hon- guage usually spoken at home. rounding the Fiscal Chapter, which is the more off-reserve citizens which will require our the Past, Present, and the Future. Members believe that while children are remaining piece to be completed. The new information to be provided to citizens via • The Big Circle: we are one family—this learning the language at home, the learning fiscal arrangements will be part of the new mail-outs, e-mail, social media, billboards, is our family; every one of us is in this circle. stops once they reach the age where they en- Fiscal Transfer Agreement that will provide etc. We all belong to a clan and we all have a ter into the school system. Members believe the financial support for the governance re- We need to ensure that information that responsibility. This is what our house looks that we need to do more collectively as a Na- lated functions and for the exercise of the is circulated is clear and concise, relevant, like. tion to address this alarming issue. In the last law-making powers and other authorities go- and tailored to all demographics in order to Elder Gordon expressed that if you want 20 years, the language speaking has declined ing forward in a new self-government agree- make an impact. If the content can make an to understand more of our Anishinaabe way, by 60%. ment. impact, then citizens will become more en- go live, look and travel to see for yourself The Anishinabek Nation Governance Members participated in a major discus- gaged in the process and understand the im- and participate in ceremonies—the Creator Agreement will provide the power to estab- sion on how to find unique ways of reach- portance of the Agreement. gave us that. lish laws that will support the preservation ing out to our citizens to try and be better Elder Gordon Waindubence provided Martin Bayer, Anishinabek Nation and on-going development of the Anishinabe communicators. Members suggested that teachings to members on the Anishinabek Chief Negotiator, provided a presentation so that in the generations to follow, there will we need to tell the story of self-determina- Preamble in the form of drawings: on the preliminary findings of the updated always be Anishinabe. tion and action. We need testimonials from • The Creator placed Anishinabe on the Socio-Demographic Profile of the Anishi- The next scheduled GWG meeting will our citizens. We need to personalize how we Mother Earth. nabek Nation by consultants Jeremy Hull be March 28 and 29, in Sault Ste. Marie. SPRING 2018 Anishinabek News Page 2 Anishinabek Nation political update The print edition of the Anishinabek News is a quarterly publication of the Anishinabek News. Governance: Views expressed are not necessarily the opin- The Anishinabek Nation is currently negoti- ion or political position of the Union of Ontario ating to finalize the Governance Agreement, Indians. which will enable communities to govern No portion of this paper, or online content, in- themselves in ways that reflect who we are cluding advertisements, artwork, photos and ed- as Anishinaabe people and implement trad- itorial content may be reproduced without writ- itional governance-related laws outside of ten permission of the Anishinabek News Editor. the Indian Act that will help improve condi- tions in our communities consistent with the Readers are invited to submit letters, articles, and photos for publication. Please include your following: name, address and telephone number on all • The Anishinabek have always governed material submitted. All submissions will be re- themselves with their own traditional laws. viewed for publication based on priority of inter- Over time, traditional governance laws were est and edited for clarity of thought, taste, brev- ity and legal implications. Remuneration will be replaced by other government laws without paid for submissions only if a written agreement consent; with the Editor is made prior to publication. • The Anishinabek Nation established the Governance Working Group comprised of For news all the time, visit: representatives from member First Nations www.anishinabeknews.ca to help guide the negotiation of the Govern- Anishinabek Nation Grand Council Chief Patrick Madahbee speaks to participants at the Ka Editor: Marci Becking ance Agreement with Canada; mnaadendanaa gaabi zhiwebeg miinwaa nango megwaa ezhwebag, miinwa geyaabi waa ni Assistant Editor: Laura Barrios • Consultations within the four Anishinabek zhiwebag - Our Past, Present and Future Conference held Feb.13-15 in Sault Ste. Marie. Layout: Marci Becking regions have been ongoing to ensure that the - Photo by Laura Barrios Ad Design: Priscilla Goulais Advertising: Marci Becking agreement reflects the needs of the commun- bilateral discussions with Canada. Nations. ities moving forward; • There are two more double bilateral meet- Contributors: Lynne Brown, Kelly Anne Smith • The Governance Agreement is not a treaty ings among the Anishinabek Nation, Canada Anishinabek Nation Housing Strategy: and will not take anything away from con- and Ontario to share information on the status The Anishinabek Nation strongly opposes PH: 705-497-9127 ~ 1-877-702-5200 stitutionally protected aboriginal and treaty of the respective discussions and approach to the one size fits all National Housing Strat- www.anishinabeknews.ca rights; funding Anishinabek child well-being. egy. The Anishinabek Nation believes the E-MAIL: [email protected] • The finalization of the agreement has been National Housing Strategy will not address P.O. Box 711, Nipissing First Nation, North Bay, tentatively targeted for the summer of 2019. Anishinaabemowin Language Implemen- the unique needs of Anishinabek commun- ON, P1B 8J8 tation: ities. Next Steps: Anishinaabemowin is the language that has • The Anishinabek Nation continues to pro- been given to our people. It has been spoken Next Steps: The current circulation of the Anishinabek News is 3,000 copies. vide information to leadership and citizens by our people since time immemorial. As • The Anishinabek Nation is currently co- DEADLINE FOR as progress is made towards a ratification part of the Algonquin language family, it is ordinating the completion of the overall SUMMER PRINT vote, Canada’s continued commitment is the second largest spoken Indigenous lan- housing needs report. Upon completion of EDITION critical to its success; guage in Canada, and the third largest in this report, the Chiefs Committee on Hous- • Continued support from the federal govern- North America. Only Cree and Navajo are ing will develop a work plan for phase 2. June 8, 2018 ment as it relates to advancing the Anishina- spoken more widely. It was and continues to • The Phase 2 work plan will guide the de- For more information or inquiries to the Anishinabek bek Nation governance in areas beyond edu- be used in our ceremonies, social and work- velopment of a proposal that will be submit- News related to circulation issues please call our cation and core governance. Relations and ing life. ted to INAC in fiscal year 2018-2019. Toll-free number All advertising : 1-877-702-5200 coordination with both INAC Headquarters itiatives. inquiries can be sent to [email protected] and Ontario Region are necessary. Next Steps: Water Needs Assessment: • Seeking formal commitment on identify- The Anishinabek Nation has worked with www.anishinabeknews.ca Anishinabek Nation Citizenship Law – ing officials from INAC to support language INAC and the Ministry of Environment E’Dbendaazijig: initiatives from the Anishinabek Nation in and Climate Change (MOECC) to prepare ISSN 1182-3178 Anishinabek News (Print) Anishinabek First Nation citizens have stat- coordination with INAC Headquarters and a Water Needs Assessment. The purpose of ISSN 1923-0710 Anishinabek News (Online) ed over the years that, “We have the right Ontario Region officials.